If you ever find comfort in your dog by giving him a hug then there could be a problem because apparently dogs don’t like them.
In an article published in Psychology Today, a study has found that hugging a dog actually stresses the animal out. Psychology professor and neuropsychological researcher Stanley Coren from the University of British Columbia, analyzed 250 photos that showed people hugging dogs and studied the known sign of anxiety in dogs, according to New York Magazine.
The results were surprising with nearly 82 percent of the dogs showed at least one sign of stress when being hugged. Coren looked at indicators such as downward ears, turning of the head away from the human and whites of its eyes. Only 8 percent of the dogs showed signs of happiness and the other 10 percent showing indifference to the gesture.
“Dogs are technically cursorial animals, which is a term that indicates that they are designed for swift running. That implies that in times of stress or threat the first line of defense that a dog uses is not his teeth, but rather his ability to run away,” Coren stated.
“Behaviorists believe that depriving a dog of that course of action by immobilizing him with a hug can increase his stress level and, if the dog’s anxiety becomes significantly intense, he may bite.”
So next time you feel inclined to give your canine friend a show of affection the best course of action is to give them a pat on the head or a soothing belly rub – your dog will be more appreciative.